Nose
The wine effuses dark fruit aromas accentuated by subtler notes of forest-floor and graphite.
Palate
The wine’s round mouthfeel and satiny tannins wrap around classic flavors of cassis, blackberry and black cherry. This refined and age-worthy wine offers lively acidity and a sturdy structure with a long lingering finish.
Growing Conditions
The estate vineyards of Opus One, comprised of 4 parcels, sit in the western portion of the famed Oakville AVA. Two parcels, totaling 100 acres, are within the renowned To Kalon Vineyard. These are complemented by the combined 70 acres of the Ballestra and River parcels, which envelop the winery. In the vineyards, hand-harvesting and other traditional approaches are taken wherever they work best. When modern techniques benefit the winegrowing process, they are researched, evaluated and integrated into practice.
Mother Nature favored the 2012 vintage with a superb growing season characterized by moderate temperatures and bountiful sunshine.
Harvest
At harvest, the fruit exhibited intense flavor, layers of complexity and excellent structure. Picking started on September 21st and continued through October 20th.
Winemaking
skin contact for 18 days.
Aging
Barrel Aging for 18 Months in new French oak.
